Guide for applying to US universities.
- 1. Guide for applying to the US
- 2. A heads-up for the rest of the journey: Applying to the US requires the most work compared to any other region that you may be applying to, thus it will be demanding of your time and effort but like anything else, if you honestly put in the work youll make great progress.
- 3. Division of the slides: Part 1: Steps when applying/researching Part 2: University requirements
- 4. Part 1: What colleges look for The common social pressure of college applications is generally to just apply to all the top tier schools, solely because of reputation and recognition or to just apply to those that may give the best financial aid. Although these are, no doubt, important factors they should never really be the defining factor when deciding the school you will be attending. Every factor of the university, major and minor, should be looked at as it will add to your college experience for the next four years to come. Similarly, from a more holistic perspective, applying to the US is not just about having the best grades or the best SAT score. Universities in the US do consider academics and student statistics however, they are most concerned if the applicant shall be a proper fit for the college or not. Overall, and simply put, universities look for what makes you unique and differentiates you from the thousands of other applicants.
- 5. Part 1: Where to apply The US is very diverse and when applying to the US, you should research the region and state to which you plan to apply to. Things to take into consideration are the weather, the political atmosphere, the general mindset of the people, etc. This may seem like small factor right now but think about having to live the next 4 years in a place where you can't stand the weather or the people. This all contributes to the experience of university. For example California is much more liberal compared to Alabama, and Michigan is extremely cold compared to Texas. Know your location, don't make this mistake.
- 6. Part 1: Types of schools and selectiveness Once when you have decided your prefered region(s) the next natural step is to research the universities that are present in your chosen area. Your research should include looking at the various university stats such as: Acceptance rates, graduation rate, drop-out rates, propensity to give financial aid (if need be), student body size, the demographic of the student population, tuition fee, application deadlines, general requirements (academic and non-academic), best major programs offered, size of university, campus layout, and anything else that you might find about the university specifically. All this information may seem like a lot to research but most of this is easily found on Google or through college research websites such as: Niche.com , Collegeboard.com , Prepscholar.com , commonapp.com , etc.
- 7. Part 1: Financial aid and scholarships Paying for university needs to be tackled strategically. Various universities give out loans, grants, and scholarships (scholarships need to be met on a qualification basis, academic or talent based). Researching your university will offer a better idea of what type of aid they will give out.
- 8. Part 1: Application portals Application portals are essentially just websites that require you to sign up and make an account through which you will submit the various documents, credentials and information that your university requires. (CommonApp, ApplyTexas, UC Apps, etc.) Portals are the method by which you will initially communicate with your select universities before your official freshman (first year) ID and email is set up. Then, after completing and submitting the application via the portals, you will be given a confirmation email confirming that your application has been received by the university. Following this, identification details such as: password, student ID, and a user name shall be emailed to you. This is the general procedure of most universities when communicating if they have received your online application, however some
- 9. Part 2: The college essay The US college essay is a crucial part of the application. It should be given a lot of thought and effort. The college essay is the main area where applicants can express who they really are, whether it be in terms of an anecdote or something else that may be completely imaginative. Depending upon the select universities of your choice, your essay topic questions will vary. The application portal on which you have made an account and have listed your various universities will offer different essay prompts, some shall be the main ones (larger essays) and others will be supplementals (shorter essays). Essay prompts are mainly open ended and thus you can choose from a range of different things to write about. For example: an internship you might have had, one of your hobbies or talents that you are passionate about or good at, an impactful volunteering or life changing experience, etc. Anything that has shown triumphant growth within you over recent years is the target topic to write about in these essays. Smaller essays or close ended topic essays are more direct and specific on what the university wants you to write about. On all essays there will either be a character or word limit to which you will have to abide by and work through. Some might find this restricting but this allows you to stick to the topic being questioned and allows you to develop your points. To get the best possible version of your essay it will take time and effort but the earlier one starts with their college research and prep the easier it will be for them. Put in the work and time to get your best possible essay.
- 10. Part 2: Community service Colleges in the US are big on community service and what one does for the environment around them. They want to see what the student has done outside the classroom and aside from academics, how has he or she impacted or bettered the community around them. This is a major tool that colleges will use to determine the candidates character and personality. This doesnt mean that you have to gain a large number of community service hours if you dont want to. If community service is not your thing then there is no point in forcing yourself to impress a college. Colleges want an honest reflection of your personality, and wish to see character growth and that youve had a meaningful experience volunteering. Volunteer for something you are passionate about so that you can honestly reflect and represent that in your application. Fortunately Nixor has a lot of such volunteering opportunities that most of you are aware of, these are all extremely useful. However, if you would want to volunteer outside of Nixor, make sure you have the certification that proves it.
- 11. Part 2: ECAs Extracurricular activities are one of the other tools that the US colleges use to associate your application with a personality. ECAs can include various sorts of things such as extra foreign language classes, debate, sports, music, pottery classes etc. Essentially anything that would take place after school hours that reflects your non-academic interests could be classified as an ECA. ECAs can overlap with your interests and hobbies and allow you to grow and develop your interests and talents, thus you can possibly even include it as one of your essay topics. They are an important part of your college application as they add a unique flair to you as an applicant. It is important to remember not to spread your ECAs too thin thus, specialize in what you enjoy the most so you can represent it in your application passionately.
- 12. Part 2: Hobbies or unique personal talents Personal talents or hobbies that you have a keen interest in will help easily differentiate you from the pool of students applying. This will help bring out that which makes you unique and gives you a distinct personality that shall be reflected within your application. Some universities allow you to list down and explain your interests or hobbies when applying. This gives them a general idea of what type of person you are with your own set of strengths. Hobbies could include sports, a talent such as drawing or singing, reading, etc. It essentially is whatever interests you or what you do in your down/free time. These also make very good essay topics to write about.
- 13. Part 2: A personal project Although not all colleges look for a personal project carried out by students, they are still more likely to accept those who have crafted something unique and innovating which has solved a practical problem, made life more convenient, or has supported moral/ethical issues. A personal project here refers to anything that a student has done by his or herself which has greatly benefited society around them or made a personal breakthrough. Examples of such acts would be something like: creating a device or app that could aid in daily tasks for the general public, or making an organization (like a new entity for example) that vouches and fights for a human right/necessity that is underprovided. (Anything tech, artistic or ethical). What all these have in common is that they make a positive impact in society. Again, not all applicants are required to do something out of the box to get into the university of their choice but if a feat like this is achieved, it shall greatly highlight the efforts of that specific applicant.
- 14. Part 2: Recommendations Not all universities necessarily require recommendations, some may and some might not. This is where research on the specific requirements comes into play. Such details on the types of requirements can be easily obtained through viewing and spending time on the colleges website. If your select universities do require recommendations from you, aside from your chosen teachers, it would also be of additional help if you would request for recommendations from other qualified individuals that know you well enough to write exceptional recommendations. These qualified individuals could include past teachers, principals, people that you have worked with in or out of school in clubs or organisations, etc. These extra recommendations are not required by all universities but if your chosen college is presenting the option, it will only aid in your admission. Do talk to a counselor to confirm if the recommendation is coming from a person suitable enough to include it in your application.
- 15. Final note: As mentioned before, all this work will be demanding of your effort and time. If you do not prioritize it along with your academics you risk a poor application that will not be the best reflection of yourself. At the end of the day it all may seem hard but it is not impossible. You have time so: Prep, Prep and Prep!!! Along with the hard work, research is key too, dont miss out on that as well. GOOD LUCK!